A powerful and vibrant collection of stories offering an intimate look into the souls of unforgettable characters, confused and oppressed by the realities of their lives Time passes relentlessly in the lives of the fragile characters populating the pages of Christine Schutt's outstanding collection of stories, revealing much but often changing nothing. Whether it brings a grandfather to the sad realization that his daughter has passed on her lifelong emotional struggles to her own daughter, or allows a child to understand her mother's tragic disconnect from reality, the passage of days, months, and years offers melancholy understanding for those caught in its drift. Yet there can be a certain grace in the painful wisdom brought by experience. These lyrical masterworks of short fiction from an acclaimed American literary artist provide poignant looks behind closed doors, where the lives of women and men, children and families are defined and diminished by love, loss, and misunderstanding.